He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 445

(445) Bonaparte and Bourbon Become One

Today is finally the day when the marriage between the old royal family and the new imperial family begins.

-Bbam bbam bbam!

Place de la Bourse, once a place where the storm of revolution raged.

But now, more than 20 years after the revolution began, it has become a symbol of peace and prosperity.

Etienne Clary, who almost died here, is a prime example, busily preparing for the wedding with a beaming smile.

Chief Adjutant Bessières asked Marshal Lannes, the commander of the Imperial Guard, who had entered for a preliminary safety inspection and was looking around.

“But why Marseille instead of Paris? Marshal Lannes?”

Lannes shrugged.

“Well, I heard that the new princess’s husband will be appointed Duke of Parma. Isn’t it because the territory is close? After all, success comes from blood and marriage. A dukedom right away, isn’t it something?”

“Don’t be too harsh. He’s like the crown prince in the old days. Won’t you be receiving a title soon, Your Excellency?”

“Well, when His Majesty asked me what title I wanted, I asked for Rivoli, regardless of the rank. But he seemed reluctant. He said he was going to give it to Masséna?”

Suddenly, Lannes clenched his fist and expressed his resentment.

“No, Bessières. Think about it. Of course, Masséna is also excellent. He’s turned the tide of war more than once! But Monte Notte or Lodi would be understandable! Rivoli is mine!”

Originally, around this time in history, Napoleon began to grant noble titles to his marshals.

Of course, that was intertwined with Napoleon’s various attempts to make the imperial throne hereditary.

The marriage with the Habsburg family in the original history also played a part.

But now, it’s closer to hastily bestowing honorary titles due to sudden anxieties about the succession.

However, a slight problem arises here.

Originally, most of the titles that Napoleon bestowed upon his marshals and generals were taken from the names of [battle victories].

For example, Lannes obtained the title of Duke of Montebello, which was a place where Lannes achieved an important victory in history.

However, because Eugene launched such a rapid blitzkrieg, Napoleon never fought at Montebello during the Italian campaign.

On the other hand, Lannes had contributed more than Masséna at Rivoli, which decided the fate of Italy, so the issue of the Duke title arose.

However, from Bessières’s point of view, Lannes’s argument is quite self-centered.

“In my opinion, His Majesty the King of Spain and Marshal Augereau probably achieved similar feats at Rivoli…”

“Still, I’m better than Masséna! The King of Spain should be content with being a king. Or let him receive something like the Duke of Cairo in addition!”

“Apparently, the Alexandria Dukedom is being considered for Marshal Ochs, by the Imperial Household Department. The Constantinople Dukedom is being considered for Marshal Marceau.”

Lannes raised his eyebrows at those words.

“He suffered in foreign lands, but what’s so grand about it? Besides, Constantinople isn’t even our land.”

“I guess His Majesty wants to make it a colony in the future.”

“Can that be done at will? Who is it? Which Minister of the Imperial Household Department is pushing this without checking it?”

Bessières smiled subtly and replied.

“Duroc.”

In history, Duroc took charge of the Imperial Household Department as soon as Napoleon ascended to the throne.

He attended to Napoleon more closely than even the commander of the Imperial Guard.

Later, he even protected Napoleon with his death during the Russian Grand Campaign.

However, because Eugene used Duroc so frequently, Duroc instead repeatedly advanced his career as an artillery general.

But now, he’s only just been appointed Minister of the Imperial Household Department.

“What? Isn’t Duroc interested in advancing in the military? Without Marmont, the position of Inspector General of Artillery would be his?”

“He doesn’t seem to have much interest in the military after the King of Spain left. It seems that Emperor Napoleon refused to let him go to Madrid.”

“He sent Junot, but why not Duroc? Tsk.”

Of course, this is because Lannes doesn’t understand Napoleon’s heart.

From Napoleon’s perspective, the so-called [Napoleon Club], the members who had been with him since his youth, are virtually gone.

So he doesn’t want to send even the last member, Duroc, out.

Bessières, who is not a close aide to the Emperor but is quick-witted, asked another question instead of discussing it further.

“By the way, is Marshal Augereau being excluded from this [investiture]?”

Lannes examined the sturdiness of the platform with his foot and tilted his head.

“Hammer here a bit more! Augereau? I don’t know. His achievements are a bit ambiguous.”

“Yes? But he has repeatedly won victories in the meantime.”

“Austerlitz. Clearly, we wouldn’t have won without Augereau. But who would the Emperor share the glory of Austerlitz with?”

Lannes looked around and lowered his voice.

“In other battles, frankly, I, Masséna, and, as you said, His Majesty the King of Spain were ahead. Besides, Marengo will probably be given to Desaix.”

Originally, Desaix in history dies at the Battle of Marengo.

But now he is alive and has achieved amazing feats at Marengo with Eugene.

Therefore, the glory of Marengo, where Augereau also made contributions, is likely to be given to Desaix.

In fact, there was a similar problem in history, so Augereau receives the dukedom of an odd battle called Castiglione.

Bessières, who had been discussing the issue of titles, which is Napoleon’s policy to stabilize the succession, clicked his tongue and said.

“Anyway, with this marriage, Paris will be quiet for a while.”

“I still don’t quite understand. Why does the marriage between Bourbon and Bonaparte reduce the succession controversy?”

“Do you really need to understand? Can’t you tell from the expression on the Speaker of the House?”

Bessières twisted his lips, looking back at Speaker of the House, Daunou, who was sitting in the VIP seats waiting.

“His face is very pale and stiff, isn’t it?”

Lannes glanced at him and clicked his tongue.

“That’s a bit unfortunate. Daunou isn’t such a bad person.”

“He offended the Emperor, so he won’t be able to keep that position for long. He’ll resign soon.”

“It’s fortunate if he’s not exiled. Oh.”

Suddenly, Lannes waved his hand happily and shouted.

“Hey! Your Majesty the King! I see the groom too! Oh, wait. Who’s next to him?”

Instantly, Lannes was surprised.

Because someone completely unexpected was there.

Of course, conversely, it was a very obvious guest.

***

The bride is always most tired just before the wedding.

“Pauline! Paola! Wake up!”

The bride Pauline, also known as Paola in Italian, is no different.

Pauline, who had been bowing her head for a moment, blinked.

She sees Letizia frowning in front of her.

“What is it, Mother? Why all of a sudden?”

“Really! How can the bride be dozing off! Your uncle is outside with a special order from His Holiness the Pope!”

“I was dozing off? Haa.”

Letizia scolded Pauline, who yawned without realizing it.

“What on earth did you do last night that your eyes are so bloodshot! Like someone who hasn’t slept a wink!”

Suddenly, Pauline frowned.

It would be understandable if she had spent a sweet time last night, but she had spent a sleepless night.

Lowering her annoyance, Pauline retorted.

“Hmph, I had a good time.”

But someone entered the waiting room with the curtains drawn and asked.

“Oh my, who did you have such a good time with?”

Pauline’s eyes widened.

The woman she hadn’t expected to come here was standing there with her maids.

It was Letizia who hurriedly got up.

“My goodness, Marie, no. Your Majesty the Queen!”

“Empress Dowager, please don’t stand on ceremony with me. Aren’t I your granddaughter-in-law? Rather, I should be showing respect.”

“No, I can’t commit such a discourtesy to the King of a country. How did you come all the way here? Oh my!”

Letizia made a fuss and then burst into laughter.

“I heard you were pregnant, is it true? You’ll be giving birth soon!”

Queen Marie Therese, or Maria Theresa, the monarch of Castile and Aragon, Leon and Granada, Nueva España [New Spain, i.e., Mexico], and countless other lands, who is now officially the only symbol that countless countries with Cortes [parliamentary assemblies] and autonomy were once one, is holding her swollen belly.

Pauline, the bride, smiled awkwardly at the Queen stroking her belly and replied.

“Congratulations. No, congratulations, Your Majesty.”

Marie smiled back as she took gentle steps towards Pauline.

“Thank you, Your Highness the Princess. I should congratulate you too, right? Since you’re marrying my brother.”

“Now you’re my sister-in-law. Don’t bully me too much? Come to think of it, my mother-in-law will be here soon, right?”

“My brother said he got drunk last night and slept alone.”

Pauline raised her chin and retorted, unfazed by Marie’s jab.

“Yes. I spent a good time waiting for the wedding all by myself.”

Of course, it is common for a bride to stay up all night before the wedding.

However, not many people say that it was a good time.

Ignoring the flustered Letizia and Pauline’s maids, Marie leaned closer to Pauline.

“I see. My sister-in-law, I don’t know if it’s because we’re becoming family, but even your scent is familiar.”

“I use Parisian perfume. A product of Rance.”

“Yes. I actually use it sometimes too.”

Marie stared directly into Pauline’s eyes from right in front of her and parted her lips.

“Today, my husband also smells of that perfume.”

François Rance is the artisan who created the perfume company that remains to this day.

In this era, Rance’s perfumes were popular among the imperial family, led by Napoleon and Josephine.

But in fact, Eugene doesn’t use this perfume.

Instantly, Letizia burst into laughter and told Marie.

“Hahaha! As soon as you arrived, you already hugged Eugene, no, His Majesty the King of Spain! Your Majesty!”

“Just call me Eugene, Empress Dowager. I don’t know if it’s because it’s been a while, but he’s being so affectionate.”

“Eugene’s thoughtfulness has been very meticulous since he was young. Hahaha!”

Marie smiled brightly and looked back at Pauline.

“I look forward to working with you in the future. Sister-in-law?”

Pauline looked at Marie and forced a smile to hide her hardening face and replied.

“Yes. I’ll visit you as often as possible. Your Majesty.”

Even if the pistol in Marie’s arms is waiting.

Nevertheless, it can’t be helped that Pauline felt she had lost when she saw Marie’s swollen belly.

***

The Emperor is not very interested in what is happening behind the veil.

“Your Majesty, you have come up with an amazing solution. Congratulations.”

The Emperor turned to Daunou, who had approached when he entered, and smiled subtly.

“Daunou, I am not unaware of your concerns.”

“Your Majesty, if you know, please do not trample on the spirit of the Great Revolution.”

“You misunderstand my intentions. I ascended to the throne precisely to protect the Great Revolution. Doesn’t the fact that I adhere to a system of succession to the throne through elections, rather than inheritance by blood, show that?”

The Emperor pinched Daunou’s cheek and said.

“Also, do not forget that Rome eventually entered the imperial system because the republic failed.”

The cabinet ministers, members of the House of Peers, and leaders of the House of Representatives who were watching the scene around them breathed a sigh of relief.

This is because they realized that the Emperor had decided to forgive Daunou.

In any case, Napoleon gets angry at those who resist him, but he tends to be generous to those who have been with him through difficult times.

Instead, Daunou could not avoid Napoleon’s famous pinch.

Daunou smiled bitterly, recalling the days when he was treated like a child by Robespierre in the old days.

“Ugh, I understand. This matter must be the idea of His Majesty the King, no, His Majesty the King of Spain? Where is he?”

The Emperor, Napoleon, looked back at his proud adopted son and frowned.

His face is pale, and his hands are bandaged, like a sick person.

What a disgrace on such a joyous celebration?

“What did you do last night that you’re staggering like this? Oh dear, you’ve even hurt your hand?”

“Ah, no. Your Majesty. I just couldn’t sleep.”

“Oh dear, you weakling. You only need to sleep 4 hours a day! You must train your body well!”

Eugene chuckled and grabbed Duroc, who was behind Napoleon, for no reason.

“Duroc, as you heard, make sure His Majesty the Emperor sleeps at least 8 hours.”

“I think His Majesty the King should be the priority.”

“Me, um, I understand.”

Ignoring Eugene, who seemed to be mumbling something, the Emperor smiled and turned around.

The Emperor doesn’t care what his adopted son and his sister are doing behind the veil.

Unless his adopted son’s wife suddenly shoots a pistol at this spot.

What is important is whether the Emperor’s intentions are carried out.

“Now then. Let’s begin the wedding. Cardinal Fesch!”

As Cardinal Fesch stepped forward to preside over the wedding, the orchestra began to play.

-Ttan, tta da dan! Ttan ttan!

The groom, Louis Charles Bourbon, was waiting for the bride, Pauline Bonaparte.

Napoleon took the bride in place of her father and led her towards Louis Charles.

Everyone who saw the sight felt it.

Bonaparte is no longer a parvenu [newly rich] Corsican country nobleman.

Indeed, Bonaparte has come to bear the long glory and yoke of Bourbon.